Inter Milan could sign Lille striker Jonathan David as early as during the January transfer window.
This according to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews. They report that the Nerazzurri are preparing to make their move for the Canadian international.
24-year-old Canadian international David is all but certain to be one of the big names on the free agent market next summer.
The former Gent striker is out of contract with Lille next summer. His contract expires at the end of next June.
And there is no indication that David will sign a new deal with Lille.
The Ligue 1 club have tried to convince the Canadian to put pen to paper on an extension. But he is not inclined to do so.
Therefore, David will almost certainly be available on a free transfer at the end of this season.
David has stayed at Lille for a few seasons despite fairly persistent transfer rumours linking him with an exit.
But with the striker available without a transfer fee, he will become a particularly enticing prospect.
Inter Milan Could Sign Jonathan David In January
If there is a big club in Europe who have shown a particular propensity for free transfer signings in recent years, it is Inter.
The Nerazzurri have signed all of Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Andre Onana, and Marcus Thuram without transfer fees in recent years.
This summer alone, both Mehdi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski arrived at Inter on free transfers.
And according to Mediaset, Inter are already very much laying the groundwork to try and sign David next summer.
The Nerazzurri are working in a similar manner to their efforts to sign Onana, Taremi, and Zielinski.
Those deals were all in the works for months before they actually happened in July.
And Inter will try something similar with David. They will look to line the signing up starting in January, as they have become experts at doing.
But alternatively, Mediaset notes, Inter may even decide that January is actually the right time to move for David.
This would naturally mean guaranteeing beating the competition for the Canadian’s signature in July.
And Inter may decide that their attacking options are not sufficient amid a punishing fixture list this season.
Nerazzurri owners Oaktree Capital would not mind investing a reasonable fee to sign David. The 24-year-old certainly fits the age profile that the owners are looking for.
And Lille would likely be willing to part ways with David for a relatively small amount, to avoid losing the striker on a free transfer next summer.